Jerry Pournelle
Jerry Pournelle
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Jeremiah Tompkins "Jerry" Pournelle was an American science fiction writer, essayist, and journalist.
#### Birth and Death Dates
Born on August 7, 1933, in Shreveport, Louisiana, he passed away on September 8, 2013, at the age of 80.
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
Pournelle was an American national, with a career spanning multiple professions: science fiction writer, essayist, journalist, and futurist. He was also a prominent figure in the military science fiction genre.
#### Early Life and Background
Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Pournelle developed an interest in writing at an early age. He attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Romance languages. During this time, he began writing science fiction stories and novels.
#### Major Accomplishments
Pournelle is best known for co-authoring _Janissaries_ with Larry Niven, a series that combines elements of science fiction and military strategy. He also wrote the influential novel _Mote in God's Eye_, which explores the first contact between humans and an alien civilization. Pournelle was a vocal advocate for space exploration and defense, serving on various government committees and advising several presidential administrations.
#### Notable Works or Actions
Some of his notable works include:
_Janissaries_ series (co-authored with Larry Niven)
_Mote in God's Eye_
_The Mote in God's Eye_ (sequel to the original novel)
_Lucifer's Hammer_ (co-authored with Larry Niven)
Pournelle was also a prolific essayist, writing for various publications such as _National Review_, _Reason_, and _Forbes_. He served on several government committees, including the President's Science Advisory Committee and the Congressional Commission on Space.
#### Impact and Legacy
Pournelle's impact on science fiction and futurism is immense. His works often explored the intersection of technology, politics, and society, providing thought-provoking commentary on contemporary issues. As a writer, he influenced generations of authors, including notable figures in the military science fiction genre.
His advocacy for space exploration and defense helped shape government policies and public opinion on these matters. Pournelle's work continues to inspire new readers, with his novels and essays remaining relevant today.
#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Pournelle is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Influential works: Novels like _Mote in God's Eye_ and _Janissaries_ series have become classics in science fiction.
Thought-provoking essays: His writings on politics, technology, and society continue to resonate with readers today.
* Advocacy for space exploration and defense: Pournelle's contributions to government committees and his public advocacy helped shape policy and public opinion.
By exploring the life and work of Jerry Pournelle, readers can gain a deeper understanding of this influential figure in science fiction and futurism. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers, thinkers, and policymakers.
Quotes by Jerry Pournelle
The fears of man are many. He fears the shadow of death and the closed doors of the future. He is afraid for his friends and for his sons and of the specter of tomorrow. All his life’s journey he walks in the lonely corridors of his controlled fears, if he is a man. For only fools will strut, and only cowards dare cringe.
The experience of war never quite leaves a young man or woman. A great many are utterly destroyed by it. All are indelibly and subtly marked by it, because, for good or evil, the memory never quite leaves any of us.” Col.
And that’s another piece of advice I’ll give junior writers; when you get to the point where they take you to lunch, let the editor suggest where to go.
The Aztecs believe they started up in what’s now New Mexico, and wandered for 10,000 years before they got down into where they are now, in Mexico City. That’s a weird legend.
Much of economics isn’t difficult, or rather, the difficulty is in cooking up arguments to “prove” that commonsense conclusions are wrong. The fact is that many commonsense conclusions are quite correct, and it takes a lot of education to get you to believe different.
You see, I used to do a certain amount of market research by going to the local drugstore and seeing what the truck drivers would put up. Now it’s all just copies from the latest best-seller list and damn little of anything else.
It’s not only possible, but likely that the Nobel Prize in economics will go in alternate years to people who disagree on nearly everything fundamental.
The arrogance of some of those who are so damned sure they are right is just astounding. Scientific witch hunts are often the worst kind, and have been since the secular authorities stopped enforcing the local bishop’s decrees of anathema.
I’ve noticed that just about every time I find a large program with known glitches that no one seems able to fix, that program is written in C and is likely written by a programming team in a remote location.
Because Tom Doherty and people like that are not stupid. If they could have streamlined their operation more to get more money out of it, they would have done it. It’s not like they’re a bunch of idiots.